Page 218 - the-odyssey

Pontonous mixed the wine and handed it to every one in
turn; the others each from his own seat made a drink-offer-
ing to the blessed gods that live in heaven, but Ulysses rose
and placed the double cup in the hands of queen Arete.
‘Farewell, queen,’ said he, ‘henceforward and for ever, till
age and death, the common lot of mankind, lay their hands
upon you. I now take my leave; be happy in this house with
your children, your people, and with king Alcinous.’
As he spoke he crossed the threshold, and Alcinous sent
a man to conduct him to his ship and to the sea shore. Arete
also sent some maidservants with him—one with a clean
shirt and cloak, another to carry his strong box, and a third
with corn and wine. When they got to the water side the
crew took these things and put them on board, with all the
meat and drink; but for Ulysses they spread a rug and a lin-
en sheet on deck that he might sleep soundly in the stern of
the ship. Then he too went on board and lay down without a
word, but the crew took every man his place and loosed the
hawser from the pierced stone to which it had been bound.
Thereon, when they began rowing out to sea, Ulysses fell
into a deep, sweet, and almost deathlike slumber. {111}
The ship bounded forward on her way as a four in hand
chariot flies over the course when the horses feel the whip.
Her prow curvetted as it were the neck of a stallion, and
a great wave of dark blue water seethed in her wake. She
held steadily on her course, and even a falcon, swiftest of
all birds, could not have kept pace with her. Thus, then, she
cut her way through the water, carrying one who was as
cunning as the gods, but who was now sleeping peacefully,

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